Potluck highlights international flavor of VIMS graduate students

International buffetW&M's Vice Provost for International Affairs and Director of the Reves Center for International Studies Stephen E. Hanson (left) joins VIMS' Dean and Director John Wells (right) as they fill their plates with an array of international delicacies.
Photo by Erin Kelly

Let's eat(Left to right) VIMS Ph.D. student Zhengui Wang, Visiting Researcher Fei Ye, and Research Professor Jian Shen stop for a quick photo before exploring new flavors from around the world.
Photo by Erin Kelly

International optionsFaculty, staff, and students all brought a dish unique to their hometown or country to the potluck. Dishes ranged from sushi, to crepes, to chocolate chip cookies.
Photo by Erin Kelly

Full houseUpwards of 40 dishes filled 2 buffet tables in Waterman's Hall on the VIMS campus and offered something for everyone.
Photo by Erin Kelly

Colombian rice pudding, Korean beef bulgolgi, and southern
fried okra are not dishes you typically find at your everyday potluck, but when
paired with other unique dishes from around the world, you get a buffet á la VIMS.

Faculty, staff, and students from William & Mary's Virginia Institute of
Marine Science took a trip around the globe recently at the institute’s 2nd
Annual International Potluck Dinner. The event—held in Watermen’s Hall on the
VIMS campus in Gloucester Point—showcased the international flavor of the
graduate students in W&M’s School of Marine Science at VIMS. It
also provided the international students with a taste of some good ol’ Southern
cooking.

VIMS’ Dean and Director John Wells served as master of ceremonies and was joined by W&M’s Vice Provost for International Affairs
and Director of the Reves Center for International Studies, Stephen E. Hanson.

“VIMS has been a world leader in forging vibrant international networks of
students and scholars interested in marine studies,” said Hanson. “The potluck
is a wonderful celebration of the contributions of our students from around the
world.”

The dinner is sponsored by VIMS’ Office of Academic Studies
with a goal of recognizing the contributions that international students,
faculty, and staff bring to the institute. Jennifer Hay, VIMS’ registrar and
assistant to the associate dean in the office of academic studies, says, “The
potluck is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the start of a new semester
with excellent food and interesting conversation.”

In an effort to have a little bit of everything, members of
the VIMS community are encouraged to bring their favorite internationally inspired
main dish, side dish, or dessert to the potluck.

“Everything I tried was simply
delicious,” says Hanson. “This is the first time I’ve ever had tofu, spaetzle,
fried okra, and chocolate crepes at the same dinner!”

VIMS Ph.D. student Zhengui Wang joined forces with visiting
researcher Fei Ye to conjure up a fried-beef mixture and potatoes tossed with
red peppers—a typical dinner for the pair in their native Jilin province of
China. Other dishes featured at the dinner were Japchae (Korean dish made with
sweet potato noodles stir fried in sesame oil), and käse spätzle (German egg
dumplings with cheese).

“The International Potluck Dinner is a great opportunity to
celebrate the cultural diversity we have among the students, faculty, and staff
at VIMS,” says graduate student and Vice President of the Graduate Student
Association Matthew Freedman. “I was so happy to see how many students were in
attendance and the food was delicious!”

Freedman, along with VIMS professor and Associate Dean of
Academic Studies Linda Schaffner, put together a slideshow that was displayed
in McHugh auditorium for the duration of the event. While attendees dined on
the international cuisine, they were able to view pictures, learn traditions
and become familiar with the common delicacies of their fellow classmates.

Graduate students come to Gloucester Point from all over the
world, including Brazil, China, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, and Thailand.

“Our
international students bring a unique perspective to campus which helps to
create a more diverse learning environment for everyone,” says Hay. “Their
international connections create new opportunities to enhance educational
partnerships.”

Ph.D. student Tony Nalovic came to VIMS in 2011 from the city
of Cayenne, the capitol of French Guiana, a small country on the northeast
coast of South America. As an
international student himself, Nalovic admits he enjoyed sampling from all of
the flavors at the potluck.

“I really think it’s fun to try new things,
especially at an event where you can try platefuls of new things,” he laughs. “I
really liked the German dumplings, the Greek salad, and the French olive and
ham bread.”

Currently the international student liaison at VIMS, Nalovic
says, “It’s the diversity of the student body that allows VIMS to contribute to
research not only here in Virginia, but worldwide.”

While some might wonder why
students from such far distances come all the way to Virginia to pursue their
graduate education, Nalovic says “I chose VIMS because I wanted the opportunity
to participate in an innovative fellowship program aimed at developing
collaborative research between scientist and fisherman.”

Freedman
says he would like to see more international events like the potluck dinner at
VIMS. The Florida native says hosting events marking the major holidays of the
international student’s home countries would be a good way to further celebrate
the cultural diversity of the graduate program and its students.